Research by travel IT specialist Amadeus has found that 77% of travellers want to travel in the next year, with Europe the top destination.
The survey of 9,074 consumers across France, Germany, India, Spain, Russia, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the United States shows the appetite to travel is high, found Amadeus. However, it also showed that greater clarity on restrictions and guidelines will be key to unlocking increased traveller confidence. Over a third (35%) of travellers said the current international guidelines around where and how to travel are confusing, making them less likely to book business and/or leisure travel.
Travellers are increasingly open to embracing technology and willing to share health data so they can start traveling again.
When asked about receptiveness to share personal health data, 93% of travellers answered that they would be willing to provide personal data for the effective use of digital health passports or certificates, a slight increase from 91% in February 2021. Almost half (48%) of business travellers would be willing to provide their health data to visit a conference or event, while 36% of leisure travellers would be willing to do so for an excursion or activity at destination.
The most popular technology
When asked which technology would increase confidence to travel in the next 12 months, mobile solutions continue to be the most popular, with the top technologies including: apps that provide on-trip notifications and alerts (44%); self-service check-in (41%); contactless mobile payments such as Apple or Google Pay (41%) and; automated and flexible cancellation policies (40%).
Mobile applications and contactless technology have remained top technologies across all three studies, with the addition of automated and flexible cancellation policies in this final instalment.
In the long term
When considering the future of travel and sustainability, the survey highlighted what solutions travellers believe might help the industry to become more sustainable in the long term. Nearly half (46%) of respondents voted for greater availability of green modes of transport, for instance electric planes. A similar percentage (44%) believe making sustainable travel more cost effective would be beneficial, and 41% said that transparency around travel companies’ sustainability policies would help.
Although receptiveness to travel in the next year is high, the travel industry needs to consider how to respond to changing traveller concerns as the travel environment continues to adapt. Travellers’ three main concerns are: catching COVID-19 while traveling (41%); self-isolation or quarantine before and after travel (41%); and changing restrictions resulting in last-minute cancellations (37%).
In comparison to the previous studies, fears of catching the virus maintain a top concern for travellers, alongside self-isolation, or quarantine.
“The travel industry still faces many challenges in light of COVID-19, but we are seeing positive steps taken as restrictions lift and developments in digital health certificates continue around the world,” said Decius Valmorbida, president, travel, Amadeus. “This research demonstrates the appetite to travel continues to grow, and that travellers are looking forward to advancements in areas such as touchless technology, digital health and sustainable travel. Now is the time to listen even more closely to travellers’ needs so we can rebuild our industry in a way that is more traveller focused, resilient and sustainable.”
